Cleaning implement for a vacuum cleaner and cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cleaning implement comprising a connector for connecting the cleaning implement to a vacuum cleaner such that the cleaning implement is in fluid communication with the vacuum cleaner. The connector comprises an engagement portion and a catch pivotally connected to the engagement portion such that the catch has a pivot axis X, the catch comprises a pressing portion spaced from the pivot axis X and a latching element arranged on a portion of the catch extending from the pivot axis X to the pressing portion. The catch is arranged such that pressing on the pressing portion pivots the catch from a first configuration in which the latching element is in an engagement position for preventing disengagement of the connector from the vacuum cleaner, to a second configuration in which the latching element is in a disengagement position in which the connector can be disengaged from the vacuum cleaner.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to United Kingdom Application No.1406874.6, filed Apr. 16, 2014, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a cleaning implement for a vacuum cleaner anda cleaning apparatus comprising a cleaning implement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

GB2497944A discloses a handheld vacuum cleaner comprising a main body 4,a grip 6, a separator 12 and an inlet nozzle 14. The handheld vacuumcleaner is similar to a vacuum cleaner that has been sold by Dyson inthe United Kingdom having the model number DC59. The inlet nozzle 14 isconfigured to receive a brush tool and is provided with a catch 16 whichsecures the brush tool to inlet nozzle 14. The catch 16 is pivotallyconnected to the inlet nozzle 14 midway along the catch 16. The catch 16has a circular pressing portion at the end nearest the inlet and alatching element at the other end. The catch 16 is released by pressingthe pressing portion against a spring disposed between the pressingportion and the inlet nozzle 14.

It is desirable to provide a catch that is more ergonomic and whichprovides a secure connection between the brush tool and the inlet nozzle14.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cleaning implement comprising a connector for connecting the cleaningimplement to a vacuum cleaner such that the cleaning implement is influid communication with the vacuum cleaner, the connector comprises anengagement portion and a catch pivotally connected to the engagementportion such that the catch has a pivot axis, the catch comprises apressing portion spaced from the pivot axis and a latching elementlocated at a portion of the catch extending from the pivot axis to thepressing portion, wherein the catch is arranged such that pressing onthe pressing portion pivots the catch from a first configuration inwhich the latching element is in an engagement position for preventingdisengagement of the connector from the vacuum cleaner, to a secondconfiguration in which the latching element is in a disengagementposition in which the connector can be disengaged from the vacuumcleaner.

The pressing portion may be spaced from the pivot axis by a firstdistance and the latching element spaced from the pivot axis by a seconddistance which is less than the first distance. The second distance may,for example, be not greater than half of the first distance.

The connector may be a male connector having an engagement axis which isaligned with the direction in which the connector is brought intoengagement with the vacuum cleaner.

The portion of the catch comprising the latching element and thepressing portion may extend from the pivot axis in a direction which isopposite the direction in which the connector is brought into engagementwith the vacuum cleaner.

The catch may be configured such that, when the connector is engagedwith the vacuum cleaner with the catch in the engagement position,exerting a force on the connector along the engagement axis away fromthe vacuum cleaner urges the latching element away from thedisengagement position. The latching element may be urged into theengagement position.

The latching element may be spaced at a distance from the pivot axis ina direction which is parallel with the engagement axis and a distancefrom the pivot axis in a direction which is orthogonal to the engagementaxis, such that exerting a force on the connector along the engagementaxis away from the vacuum cleaner generates a moment about the pivotaxis thereby urging the latching element away from the disengagementposition. The latching element may be urged into the engagementposition.

The cleaning implement may comprise a biasing device which biases thecatch into the first configuration. For example, the biasing device maybe a spring, such as a compression spring, or other resilient element.The biasing device may be a resilient portion of the catch. The biasingdevice may be arranged to act on a portion of the catch extending fromthe latching element away from the pivot axis.

The biasing device may be arranged to act on the portion of the catchwhich extends from, and including, the latching element to the pressingportion. The biasing device may be a resilient member disposed betweenthe pressing portion and the engagement axis.

At least part of the catch may be disposed within a channel providedalong the engagement portion. The biasing device may be disposed betweenthe catch and a base of the channel.

The cleaning implement may comprise a wand and/or a cleaner head.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided acleaning apparatus comprising a vacuum cleaner and a cleaning implementin accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand the present invention, and to show moreclearly how the invention may be put into effect, the invention will nowbe described, by way of example, with reference to the followingdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the cleaning apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of part of the cleaning apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of part of the cleaning apparatus shown inFIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of part of the cleaning apparatus shown inFIG. 1 in a disengaged configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a vacuum cleaning apparatus 2 comprising a handheld vacuumcleaner 4 and a cleaning implement 6 comprising a tubular wand 8 and acleaner head 10.

The handheld vacuum cleaner 4 comprises an elongate handle 12, anairflow generator 14 disposed at one end of the handle 12 and a powersource 16 disposed at the other end of the handle 12. The handle 12 isarranged such that a user gripping the handle supports the vacuumcleaning apparatus 2 while manoeuvring the cleaner head 10 across asurface being cleaned. The handle 12 is located towards the rear of thehandheld vacuum cleaner 4 so that the vacuum cleaner 4 can be supportedin front of the user.

The handheld vacuum cleaner 4 further comprises a separator 18, in theform of a cyclonic separator, and a first connector 20. The firstconnector 20 is positioned towards the front of the handheld vacuumcleaner 4. The separator 18 is arranged between the first connector 20and the handle 12.

The wand 8 comprises a second connector 22 at one end of the wand 8. Thesecond connector 22 connects to the first connector 20 thereby securingthe wand 8 to the handheld vacuum cleaner 4 such that the handheldvacuum cleaner 4 is in fluid communication with the wand 8. The wand 8comprises a third connector 24 at the end of the wand 8 opposite thesecond connector 20. The third connector 24 is connected to a fourthconnector 26 provided on the cleaner head 10. The fourth connector 26 issubstantially identical to the second connector 22, as described below.The fourth connector 26 can therefore be connected to the firstconnector 22 so that the cleaner head 10 can be secured directly to thehandheld vacuum cleaner 4.

FIG. 2 shows the first and second connectors 20, 22 connected to eachother. FIG. 3 shows part of the cleaning apparatus 2 comprising thefirst connector 20. FIG. 4 shows part of the cleaning apparatus 2comprising the second connector 22.

The first connector 20 is a female connector having a cylindricalreceiving portion 28. The receiving portion 28 has a longitudinal axiswhich defines an engagement axis E₁ of the first connector 20. A recess30 is formed in an inner surface of the receiving portion 28. The recess30 has a flat forward surface 32 that extends in a plane that itsubstantially orthogonal to the engagement axis E₁ and a rearwardsurface 34, that is inclined from the base of the recess 30 towards theengagement axis E₁ (i.e. the surface extends radially inwardly andrearwardly). The first connector 20 has a slot 36 formed at the end ofthe first connector 20.

The second connector 22 is a male connector having a cylindricalengagement portion 38 and a collar 40. The engagement portion 38 isconfigured such that it can be inserted into the receiving portion 28 ofthe first connector 20. The engagement portion 38 has a longitudinalaxis which defines an engagement axis E₂ of the second connector 22.

The engagement axes E₁, E₂ are aligned when the second connector 22 isconnected to the first connector 20. The engagement axes E₁, E₂correspond to the direction along which second connector 22 is insertedinto the first connector 20.

A channel 42 extends along the engagement portion 38 in a directionwhich is parallel with the engagement axis E₂. An elongate catch 44 islocated within the channel 42 such that part of the outer surface of thecatch 44 lies substantially within the same circumferential plane as theouter surface of the engagement portion 38. FIG. 2 shows the catch 44 ina first configuration in which disengagement of the second connector 22from the first connector 20 is prevented.

The catch 44 is pivotally connected at one end to the engagement portion38 by trunnions 46 (only one of which is visible in FIG. 4) provided onopposite lateral sides of the catch 44, which engage respective bores 48provided in the sides of the channel 42. The pivot axis X of the catch44 extends in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to theengagement axis E₂ of the second connector 22.

The catch 44 comprises a latching element 50 and a pressing portion 52.The pressing portion 52 is located towards the end of the catch 44opposite the pivotal connection. The latching element 50 is locatedcloser to the pivot axis X than the pressing portion 52. In theembodiment shown, the latching element 50 is located approximatelymidway between the pressing portion 52 and the pivot axis X (it will beappreciated that the latching element need not lie in the same plane asa plane passing through the pressing portion 52 and the pivot axis X).The latching element 50 is spaced at a distance from the engagement axisE₂ which is greater than the distance by which the pivot axis X isspaced from the engagement axis E₂.

The latching element 50 comprises a protrusion 54 that corresponds tothe shape of the recess 30 provided on the first connector 20. Theprotrusion 54 has a leading surface 56 that is inclined with respect tothe engagement axis E₂ of the second connector 22 and a trailing surface58 that extends around the rear of the protrusion. The rearmost part ofthe trailing surface 58 extends in a plane that is substantiallyorthogonal to the engagement axis E₂. The trailing surface 58 abuts theflat forward surface 32 of the recess 30 such that the catch 44 preventswithdrawal of the engagement portion 38 from the receiving portion 28.

The channel 42 extends into the collar 40 such that it defines a slot 60into which the portion of the catch 44 comprising the pressing portion52 extends. At least part of the pressing portion 52 extends forward ofthe slot 60, and hence forward of the collar 40. A flange portion 62surrounds at least part of the periphery of the pressing portion 52. Theflange portion 62 abuts the underside of a lip 64 provided at the end ofthe channel 42.

A biasing member in the form of a spring 66 is disposed between thecatch 44 and the bottom of the channel 42. The spring 66 is disposedbeneath the pressing portion 52 and is arranged to bias the pressingportion 52 away from the engagement axis E₂ such that the catch 44 isheld in the first configuration in which the latching element 50 islocates in the recess 30 and the flange portion 62 is pressed againstthe lip 64.

A user disconnects the wand 8 from the handheld vacuum cleaner 4 bygripping the collar 40 of the second connector 22, and pressing down onthe pressing portion 52 with the thumb or a finger of the hand grippingthe wand 8. While doing so, the user can keep hold of the handle 12 ofthe vacuum cleaner 4 with their other hand It will be appreciated thatthe user may grip the end of the wand 8 adjacent the collar 40 as wellas, or instead of, the collar 40 itself.

Pressing down on the pressing portion 52 pushes the catch 44 against thespring 66 into the channel 42 thereby rotating the pressing portion 52towards the engagement axis E₂ and disengaging the latching element 50from the recess 30. The catch 44 is then in a second configuration inwhich the user can slide the engagement portion 38 out from thereceiving portion 28 and so disconnect the wand 8 from the vacuumcleaner 4. Because the user can simultaneously grip the end of the wand8 and operate the catch with the same hand, the user is able to quicklyand easily remove the wand 8 without having to let go of the handle 12of the handheld vacuum cleaner 4. This greatly enhances the usability ofthe vacuum cleaner 4 because cleaning implements can be removed andreplaced quickly and easily. The spring 66 urges the catch 44 back intothe first configuration in which the flange portion 62 is pressedagainst the lip 64.

It will be appreciated that, because the latching element 50 is closerto the pivot axis X than the pressing portion 52, the force required torelease the catch 44 by pressing on the latching element 50 is much lessthan the force that would be required should the pressing portion 52 bearranged at the latching element 50. Consequently, the latching element50 is held in engagement with the recess 30 securely, while beingrelatively easy to release by pressing on the pressing portion 52.

In addition, should the wand 8 be pulled away from the vacuum cleaner 4along the engagement axes E₁, E₂, for example, as a consequence of auser pulling against the cleaner head 10 when trapped by an item offurniture), the trailing surface 58 of the latching element 50 ispressed against the flat forward surface 32 of the recess 30.Consequently, a moment (which in FIG. 2, is an anti-clockwise moment) isexerted on the catch 44 about the pivot axis X which presses thelatching element 50 into the recess 28. It will be appreciated that theharder a user pulls on the vacuum cleaner 4, the harder the latchingelement 50 is forced into engagement with the recess 28 and the harderit becomes to release the catch 44. The arrangement therefore provides aparticularly secure connection between the wand 8 and the vacuum cleaner4 which helps prevent accidental disconnection of the wand 8 from thevacuum cleaner 4. It will, however, be appreciated that it may bedesirable to configure the arrangement so that the wand 8 and the vacuumcleaner 4 can be separated when a large force is applied, for example,in circumstances in which the arrangement is handled abusively, so as toavoid breaking of the apparatus.

FIG. 5 shows the first and second connectors 20, 22 separated from eachother. The connectors 20, 22 are engaged with each other by aligning thealignment axis E₂ of the second connector 22 with the alignment axis E₁of the first connector 20, and inserting the engagement portion 38 ofthe second connector 22 into the receiving portion 28 of the firstconnector 20. In addition, the pressing portion 52 is aligned with theslot 36 so that, as the engagement portion 38 is inserted into thereceiving portion 28, the pressing portion 52 is received by the slot36. The slot 36 therefore acts as a guide for ensuring correct alignmentof the connectors 20, 22. As the engagement portion 38 is inserted intothe receiving portion 28, the leading surface 56 of the protrusion 54rides over the front edge of the slot 36 thereby pressing the catch 44against the spring 66 until the protrusion latches in the recess 30.

The third connector 24 is the same as the first connector 20 and thefourth connector 26 is the same as the second connector 22. It will beappreciated that the cleaner head 10 can be removed from the wand 8 bygripping the fourth connecter 26, and pressing the catch located on thefourth connector 26, in the same manner as the wand 8 is removed fromthe handheld vacuum cleaner 4. Furthermore, the cleaner head 10 can beused as a cleaning implement itself by connecting the fourth connector26 with the first connector 20 so that the cleaner head 10 is directlyconnected to the handheld vacuum cleaner 4.

Although the cleaning implement described above comprises a wand 8 and acleaner head 10, it will be appreciated that the wand 8 could also beused as a cleaning implement by itself (for example to cleandirt/cobwebs from elevated areas). Other cleaning implements, such as aflexible hose, or specialised cleaning implements for cleaning hardfloors, soft furnishings, specific types of carpets or crevices couldcomprise a connector which is the same as the second and fourthconnectors 22, 26 and so could be connected to the wand 8 or the vacuumcleaner 4 respectively.

Although the connector arrangement is particularly advantageous forhandheld vacuum cleaners, it will be appreciated that the connectorarrangement would be suitable for other types of vacuum cleanerincluding, but not limited to, cylinder vacuum cleaners and uprightvacuum cleaners, including lightweight stick vacuum cleaners, in whichcleaning implements, such as cleaner heads, are interchanged.

1. A cleaning implement comprising a connector for connecting thecleaning implement to a vacuum cleaner such that the cleaning implementis in fluid communication with the vacuum cleaner, the connectorcomprises an engagement portion and a catch pivotally connected to theengagement portion such that the catch has a pivot axis, the catchcomprises a pressing portion spaced from the pivot axis and a latchingelement located at a portion of the catch extending from the pivot axisto the pressing portion, wherein the catch is arranged such thatpressing on the pressing portion pivots the catch from a firstconfiguration in which the latching element is in an engagement positionfor preventing disengagement of the connector from the vacuum cleaner,to a second configuration in which the latching element is in adisengagement position in which the connector can be disengaged from thevacuum cleaner.
 2. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein thepressing portion is spaced from the pivot axis by a first distance andthe latching element is spaced from the pivot axis by a second distancewhich is less than the first distance.
 3. The cleaning implement ofclaim 2, wherein the second distance is not greater than half of thefirst distance.
 4. The cleaning implement of claim 1, wherein theconnector is a male connector having an engagement axis which is alignedwith the direction in which the connector is brought into engagementwith the vacuum cleaner.
 5. The cleaning implement of claim 4, whereinthe portion of the catch comprising the latching element and thepressing portion extends from the pivot axis in a direction which isopposite the direction in which the connector is brought into engagementwith the vacuum cleaner.
 6. The cleaning implement of claim 4, whereinthe catch is configured such that, when the connector is engaged withthe vacuum cleaner with the catch in the engagement position, exerting aforce on the connector along the engagement axis away from the vacuumcleaner urges the latching element away from the disengagement position.7. The cleaning implement of claim 6, wherein the latching element isspaced at a distance from the pivot axis in a direction which isparallel with the engagement axis and a distance from the pivot axis ina direction which is orthogonal to the engagement axis, such thatexerting a force on the connector along the engagement axis away fromthe vacuum cleaner generates a moment about the pivot axis therebyurging the latching element away from the disengagement position.
 8. Thecleaning implement of claim 1, wherein the cleaning implement comprisesa biasing device which biases the catch into the first configuration. 9.The cleaning implement of claim 8, wherein the biasing device isarranged to act on a portion of the catch extending from the latchingelement away from the pivot axis.
 10. The cleaning implement of claim 9,wherein the biasing device is arranged to act on the portion of thecatch which extends from, and including, the latching element to thepressing portion.
 11. The cleaning implement of claim 8, wherein thebiasing device is a resilient member disposed between the pressingportion and the engagement axis.
 12. The cleaning implement of claim 8,wherein at least part of the catch is disposed within a channel providedalong the engagement portion and the biasing device is disposed betweenthe catch and a base of the channel.
 13. The cleaning implement of claim1, wherein the cleaning implement comprises one or both of a wand and acleaner head.
 14. A cleaning apparatus comprising a vacuum cleaner andthe cleaning implement of claim 1.